According to NACE's Job Outlook 2016 survey, more than 80 percent of responding employers said they look for evidence of leadership skills on the candidate's resume. In addition, while academic major has the most significant influence on an employer's decision to hire one candidate over another, leadership roles, participation in extracurricular activities, and a high GPA are key factors. (See Figure 2.)
Figure 2: Influence of Attributes
| ATTRIBUTE | 2016 AVERAGE INFLUENCE RATING* | 2015 AVERAGE INFLUENCE RATING* |
|---|---|---|
| Major | 4.0 | 3.9 |
| Has held leadership position | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| Has been involved in extracurricular activities (clubs, sports, student government, etc.) | 3.6 | 3.6 |
| High GPA (3.0 or above) | 3.5 | 3.6 |
| School attended | 2.9 | 2.8 |
| Has done volunteer work | 2.8 | 2.8 |
| Is fluent in a foreign language | 2.2 | 2.4 |
| Has studied abroad | 2.0 | 2.1 |
*5-point scale, where 1=No influence at all, 2=Not much influence, 3=Somewhat of an influence, 4=Very much influence, and 5=Extreme influence.
Source: Job Outlook 2016, National Association of Colleges and Employers
Student Centers and Activities offers a multitude of leadership opportunities that are great on resumes and assist you with building your personal brand and network.
